Rape suspect charged after touching himself in Columbus store, police say

A wanted rape suspect was arrested Thursday morning after he allegedly touched himself in a store on South Lumpkin Road, according to Columbus police.

Shay Dawson, 25, pleaded not guilty to one count each of public indecency and obstruction. He was booked into the Muscogee County Jail under bonds totaling $500.

Judge Julius Hunter bound the case over to Superior Court and ordered Dawson to stay away from the business.

Officer Danielle Danforth was called to the Novedades Tury store at 2001 South Lumpkin Road around 10:15 a.m. Thursday to investigate an incident where a man exposed himself.

An employee told police that a man later identified as Dawson has visited the store multiple times within the last two weeks. Each time, he would state that he was waiting for a ride.

He visited the store Thursday morning stating that he was waiting for a ride, and he was told to leave. He left but returned later that day asking to use the phone, but he was again instructed to leave.

He left and returned a third time. That’s allegedly when he pulled his pants down and started touching himself in the business.

He ran out of the store, but authorities captured him after a short foot chase.

At the time, he was wanted on a rape charge stemming from an unrelated incident reported on July 25. He was accused of sexually assaulting an underage girl. No further details about that incident have been released.

This story was originally published December 8, 2017 at 11:29 AM with the headline "Rape suspect charged after touching himself in Columbus store, police say."